I'd argue that America should focus on its own problems, rather than further intervene in this intra-Arab/Persian battle. Dr. Rice, a moderate-conservative Republican and former U.S. Secretary of State, disagrees: "As
Syria crumbles, Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds are being drawn into a
regional web of sectarian allegiances. Karl Marx once called on workers
of the world to unite across national boundaries. He told them that they
had more in common with each other than with the ruling classes that
oppressed them in the name of nationalism. Marx exhorted workers to
throw off the 'false consciousness' of national identity. Today’s
Karl Marx is Iran. It envisions the spread of its influence among
Shiites, uniting them under the theocratic flag of Tehran — destroying
the integrity of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Lebanon. Iran uses
terrorist groups, Hezbollah and the Shiite militias in southern Iraq to
do its bidding. Syria is the linchpin,
the bridge into the Arab Middle East. Tehran no longer hides the fact
that its security forces are working in Syria to prop up Assad. In this
context, Tehran’s sprint toward a nuclear weapon is a problem not just
for Israel but the region as a whole."
Dr. Rice argues that American leadership is missing from the picture: "In recent days, France, Britain and Turkey have stepped into the diplomatic vacuum to recognize a newly formed opposition
that is broadly representative of all Syrians. The United States should
follow their lead and then vet and arm the unified group with defensive
weapons on the condition that it pursues an inclusive post-Assad
framework. The United States and its allies should also consider
establishing a no-fly zone to protect the innocent. America’s weight and
influence are needed. Leaving this to regional powers, whose interests
are not identical to ours, will only exacerbate the deepening
sectarianism."
Condi Rice: "Syria Is Central To Holding Together The Middle East. USA Should Support The New Syrian Opposition Coalition"
